It's the end of March and with it comes the end of National women’s history month.
It was first created in 1981 and officially recognized by Congress in 1989.
Today it’s commonplace for schools to teach about women’s history.
However, because most schools in the U.S share the same type of curriculum, who we learn about was limited. This means many iconic women do not get the full recognition they deserve.
This month, we want to recognize iconic women that schools don't talk about.
So here are 4 female leaders that helped shaped America as we know it today!
#1 Dolores Huerta
Born April 10th, 1930 in the mining town of Dawson, New Mexico, Dolores Huerta is the Secondborn out of three children. Her father Juan Fernández was born to a Mexican immigrant family and worked as a coal miner. Later, he joined the migrant labor force. Her mother Alicia Chávez was a businesswoman who owned a restaurant and a 70-room hotel, where she welcomed low-wage workers and farmworker families at affordable prices and sometimes gave them free housing.
Huerta's community activism began when she was a student at Stockton High School. Huerta was active in numerous school clubs and was a majorette and dedicated member of the Girl Scouts until the age of 18. In 1955 Huerta, along with Fred Ross Co-Founded the Stockton chapter of Community Service Organization. Later, in 1962 she Co-founded The National Farmworkers Association with Caesar Chavez. Eventually, they merged with the Agricultural Workers Organizing Committee to form the United Farm Workers of America (UFW).
#2 Madeline Jane Korbel Albright
Madeline Jane Korbel Albright was an American diplomat and political scientist. Born May 15th, 1937 she immigrated to the United States with her family in 1948 from Communist Czechoslovakia. Her father, diplomat Josef Korbel, settled the family in Denver, Colorado. Dolores Huerta became a U.S. citizen in 1957. In 1959 she graduated from Wellesley College. In 1975 she earned her Ph.D. from Columbia University.
She worked as an aide to Senator Edmund Muskie before taking a position under Zbigniew Brzezinski on the National Security Council. She served in that position until 1981.
In 1997 on January 23rd, Albright took office as the 64th U.S Secretary of State. She was the First Female U.S Secretary of state & highest-ranking woman in the history of the U.S government. Her term ended on January 20th, 2001. She would continue to be an influential leader for the next 21 years. Last week On march 23rd, 2022 Madeline Jane Korbel Albright passed.
#3 Sonia Maria Sotomayor
Sonia Maria Sotomayor was born June 25th, 1954 in Brooklyn, New York to her two Puerto-Rican-born parents. Losing her father at a young age, she was subsequently raised by her single mother. For grammar school, Sotomayor attended Blessed Sacrament School in Soundview where she was valedictorian and had a near-perfect attendance record. Although underage, Sotomayor worked at a local retail store and a hospital. Sotomayor also passed the entrance tests and attended Cardinal Spellman High School in the Bronx. Later, in 1976 Sotomayor would graduate from Princeton University; and In 1979 she received her Juris Doctor from Yale Law School.
Throughout her life, she has been a leader that has received several nominations for high-ranking positions in Legislative government. Sotomayor was nominated to the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York in 1991, and In 1997, she was nominated to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit. Both of which she was confirmed for. However, in 2009 she received one of the highest honors in the Justice system, she was Nominated to be a supreme court justice by President Barack Obama.
#4 Shirley Anita Chisholm
Born November 30th, 1924, Shirley Anita Chisholm considered herself a Barbadian American even though she was born in Brooklyn, New York. This was because some of her most formative and critical years were spent in Barbados where most of her family originated from. Back in the states in the early 1950s, Chisholm studied and worked in early childhood education. Later she would become involved in the local Democratic Party.
In 1964 after overcoming some resistance due to her sex, she was elected to the New York State assembly. Later in 1968, she became the first black woman elected to the United States Congress. She served for 7 terms from 1969 to 1983. In 1972 she became the first black candidate for a major-party nomination for president of the United States. On January 1st, 2005 Chisholm passed in her home in Ormond Beach, Florida.
These 4 Women are all leaders that fought for their communities and the less fortunate to make their country a better place for all. Achieving what was once thought to be impossible. Taking on roles that were once seen as positions only suited for men.